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Business Development Manager

Job Description

TITLE: Manager, Business Development

REPORTING TO: Director of Development

LOCATION: Washington, DC

JOBS SUPERVISED: None

ASSIGNMENT LENGTH: Indefinite

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Manager, Business Development, working with program staff around the world, will identify and pursue strategic business development opportunities with multi-and bilateral donors and foundations to build the Council’s program portfolio and country-level initiatives. S/he will spearhead proposal development efforts, particularly for multi- and bilateral donors, by collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams of colleagues and partner organizations to ensure that the Population Council develops and submits winning proposals. The Manager will build relationships with international and national health and development organizations to identify solid, fruitful, and successful partnerships. The Manager will gather and present analyses to Council staff on important opportunities, identify and negotiate roles and responsibilities with partner organizations and potential staff and consultants, draft certain elements of proposals, and oversee the proposal development process ensuring the highest quality proposals and timely submissions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Work with Population Council program and country directors and researchers in the country, New York, and Washington DC offices to identify, analyze, and develop strategic new business opportunities.

Cultivate and strengthen relationships with current and potential development partners and help position the Council for new business development opportunities to strengthen and grow the Council’s programmatic and geographic portfolio.

Analyze solicitations issued by US and other multi- and bilateral governments; with program staff members and vice presidents assess the strategic importance and opportunity to submit a winning proposal for the Council; explore and develop partnership options; and facilitate a process for making a decision about the bidding opportunity.

Oversee the proposal development process for large, complex bids working closely with program and operations staff and external partner organizations. This includes negotiation of partner roles and responsibilities, planning and facilitation of internal and external strategy meetings in collaboration with program staff, allocation of human and financial resources, and leadership of proposal development teams as appropriate.

Draft sections of technical proposals such as the management plan, capability and staffing sections, and other areas as needed.

Work with the finance managers and Grants and Contracts staff members to develop winning commercial proposals through strategic input into the presentation of budget templates and cost narratives to ensure comprehensive and competitive commercial tenders.

Review draft and final proposals to ensure synergy between the technical and commercial responses and the solicitation.

Develop and continue to improve systems, including standard operating procedures and templates, to ensure maximum technical and financial quality of Council submissions, and to track and monitor business development opportunities.

Provide regular briefings to senior staff regarding development opportunities and bid status, keeping them fully abreast of all opportunities and proposals.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s degree in field relevant to the Council’s work such as public health, international affairs, sociology, or anthropology.

At least six years’ experience, including five years focused on business development and proposal writing for donors such as US Agency for International Development, foreign governments, and multilateral donors.

Experience with and knowledge of the international development community, preferably in the areas of HIV and AIDS; adolescents; education; and/or reproductive health.

Demonstrated experience in successful proposal development.

Ability to manage teams composed of multi-disciplinary staff and partner agencies under tight deadlines, and to work well in a team environment.

Capacity to understand the big picture while maintaining a penchant for detail.

Strategic and analytical thinking with excellent skills in conceptualization and design, and in persuasive writing with the ability to present ideas in a clear, concise way.

Excellent writing skills for diplomatic, comprehensive, and clear e-mails to staff, partners, and donors, and for drafting content of technical and commercial tenders.

Excellent oral communication skills to present the Population Council’s business development opportunities and proposal plans in a concise, compelling, and articulate way to Population Council senior staff, partners, and country-level organizations and staff.

Ability to work within deadlines and frequently shifting priorities.

How to apply

The Population Council is an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental institution that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries. Established in 1952, the Council is governed by an international board of trustees. Its New York headquarters supports a global network of country offices. We are seeking an individual to fill the position described. If you know of a qualified candidate or are interested in this position, please apply at:http:www.popcouncil.org/employment/index.asp//.

The Population Council provides equal opportunity; it does not discriminate against any person with regard to age, color, creed, national origin, disability, political belief, veteran status, religion, marital status, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Decisions on employment are based on an individual’s qualifications as related to the position for which s/he is being considered. The Council especially encourages applications from qualified women and members of minority groups. The Population Council is international in the composition of its board of trustees and its staff, as well as in the nature and deployment of its activities.